The iPhone 4 launch was a debacle that nevertheless dissuaded precious few consumers from standing in long lines to buy the gadget. Now it comes encrusted with diamonds. A sure bet, or another diamond jewelry fad destined to go by the wayside?
iPhone 4 Meets World
June 24 was the much-awaited launch date of the iPhone 4. In a rollout scheme that could not have been more flawed had the presenters put it together the day of the event, the new iPhone also reveals a rather serious external antenna glitch.
None of these antics deterred the consumers who were already wild about the gadget and – as outlined by PC World – came out in droves to buy. It appears that 1.7 million iPhones flew off the shelves within the first three days of being available, and daily retailers are adding to this impressive number.
Diamond Jewelry Meets iPhone 4
Unruffled by the techie naysayers, Stuart Hughes is betting the bottom dollar on the continued popularity of the iPhone, and has married the gadget with a number of diamonds. He plans on limiting the number of available units to 50.
Calling it the iPhone 4G Diamond Edition, the designer added 6.5 cts color F diamonds that are individually set. The Apple logo is fashioned from platinum and diamonds. The phone is factory unlocked, and comes with an ostrich leather wallet. The price tag is £12,995.00 (roughly $20,000).
Diamonds and Consumer Goods: The Never-ending Fad?
Take, for example, the diamond jewelry-encrusted miracle bra from Victoria’s Secret for £3 million (approximately $4.5 million). Released just in time for the holiday shopping season in 2008, this lingerie featured a mix of small black diamonds, 34 rubies and 117 one-carat perfectly round diamonds. But wait, there was more! Two 100-carat black diamonds dangled from the brassiere in such a way that it would be a shame to wear any clothes over it.
Prior to that, it was the $1.65 million diamond fruit cakethat billed itself as the world’s most expensive dessert. Made in 2005 in Tokyo, it featured 223 diamonds that studded the exterior of the cake. With this much bling, it matters little what the actual cake is made of.
Yet, just as the diamond jewelry fads came and went, one can only wonder what the fate of the diamond-encrusted iPhone 4 might be – and of the antenna-issue plagued iPhone itself.
Sources
(1)http://www.pcworld.com/article/200039/apples_iphone_4_launch_as_sloppy_as_it_was_successful.html
(2)http://stuarthughes.com/newdawn/product_info.php?products_id=92
(3)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1078690/Going-bust-The-bra-thats-worth-3m.html
(4)http://www.foodmall.org/entry/165-mn-diamond-fruit-cake-the-most-expensive-piece-of-food-art/